Attachment for bath-tubs.



PATENTED JULY 30, 1907 A. STEIN. ATTAGHMENT FOR BATH TUBS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16, 1907.

5 6 M u MW atbo'onug ANTON STEIN, OF SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA.

ATTACI-HVIENT FOR BATH-TUBS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 30, 1907.

Application filed March 16, 1907. Serial No. 362,674.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTON STEIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Santa Rosa, in the county of Sonoma and State of California,have invented new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Bath-Tubs,of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in attachments for bath tubs, inthe use of which the bather may readily cleanse portions of the bodyordinarily beyond the reach of the hands.

The main object of the present invention is the provision of an element,as a bathing sponge or the like, which is adapted to be removablysecured in .a bath tub to permit the use of the same as a soap applyingand rubbing surface for the back of the bather, whereby that portion ofthe body may be quickly and conveniently cleansed.

The invention will be described in the following specification,reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1.is a sectional view illustrating the application and use of myimproved attachment. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the attachmentremoved.

Referring to the drawings, my improved attachment is designed for usewith a bath tub 1, which, aside from the details hereinafter noted, maybe of any usual or preferred construction. The rim 2 of the tub inalinement with the rear inclined wall 3 is provided on its upper surfacewith a projecting rib 4, which extends throughout a portion of the rimoverlying the inclined back, and, of course, conforms in curvature tothe plan curvature of the rim.

The attachment comprises a supporting plate 5 conforming in transversesection to the transverse curvature of the back 3, the upper edge of theplate being bent or otherwise formed to provide a receiving channel 6arranged to receive the rib l. The lower edge 7 of the plate, and alsothe side edges 8 for a portion of their lengths are bent or otherwiseformed to provide flanges 9 overlying and spaced from the proximatesurface of the plate to form channels or grooves 10, as clearly shown inFig. 2. x

The cleaning element, preferably in the form of the igual rubber sponge11, is secured upoh a more or less flexible strip 12,- the edges ofwhich project beyond the edges of the sponge, The projecting edges ofthe plate 12 are designed to be inserted in the grooves 10 formed by thefianges 9, whereby the sponge is secured to the relatively lower portionof the plate 5 to provide for its convenient removal when desired. Theplate 5 above the upper edge of the plate 12 is formed with a series ofperforations 13, whereby to permit the escape of water accumulated abovethe sponge in the use of the latter.

The plate 5 is of greater length than the back 3 of the tub, so that thelower end '14 of said plate rests against the bottom of the tub inadvance of the rear wall 3 thereof and thereby spaces the plate 5throughout its length from the wall 3., This construction provides for amore or less movable support of the plate 5, permitting the same toyield in use by the bather so as to insure a more effective frictionalcontact with the back of the bather, as will be obvious;

The plate 12 is to be of a,flexible character, as a rubber strip,providing, however, sufficient rigidity to se cure the sponge in placeon the plate 5 without interfering with the flexible character of thesponge.

In use the bather having first applied soap to the sponge surface ifdesired may use said surface as a rubbing and cleansing medium for theback by positioning that portion of his body in contact with the spongeand securing the rubbing action by obvious movements of the body.

When not desired for use the attachment may be readily removed from thebath tub, or a new sponge or equivalent rubbing element may be appliedat any time. As the plate 5 is in a measure yieldingly supported by therear wall of the tub it is obvious that the user may secure and maintainany desired pressure against the back.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is:

1. The combination with a bath tub formed with a projecting rib, of anattachment for said tub comprising a plate formed to removably engagethe rib and provided with edge recesses, and a rubbing element designedto overlie the surface of the plate and removably engage the recesses.

2. The combination with a bath formed with a projecting rib, of anattachment for said tub comprising a plate formed to removably engagethe rib and provided with edge recesses, and a rubbing element designedto over' lie the surface of the plate and removably engage the recesses,said element comprising a flexible plate having a sponge surface.

3. The combination with a-bath tub formed with a projecting rib, of anattachment for said tub comprising a plate'formed to removably engagethe rib and provided with edge recesses, and a rubbing element designedtooverlie the surface of the plate and removably engage the recesses,the surface of the plate above the rubbing element being formed with aseries of perforations.

In testimony whereof, I affix-my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANTON STEIN.

Witnesses:

GEORGE Af-Trros, THOMAS A. WEAVER.

